URIM

A word connected in its signification with lh» word thummim, being the plural of the Hebrew aur, a light, a luminary; whence it has come to signify fire. Thv.ni mini., which is the plural of thorn or tarn, means fulne ct perfection. See Wilkinson' s Ancient Egyptian*, as to th*; connexion of this word with the title of the Egyptian gorf Thauth, orThoth. The two words, conjointly, signify light and perfection26 17" but the Septuagint render it literally e^uim; xai iiXtjOenj, manifestation and truth. The urim and thummim wers the precious stones on the high priest's breastplate, which made known the will of God by casting an extraordinarj lustre, and thereby manifested the succe of events tn those who cohsulted them. The high priest alone could officiate at this solemn cere mony; and the urim was to be consulted only at the in stance of public persons, such as the king, the president oi the sanhedrim, and the general of the Israel it ish army; and only on such public matters as related to the common interest of the twelve tribes. The manner in which the high priest consulted the urim was as follows: Having entered into the sanctuary or holy place, being fully invested with his robes and breastplate, and with his face turned towards the ark of the covenant, upon which the divine presence reposed, he brought the matter to be consulted; the person for whom he consulted standing behind him, and in humility and reverence await ing the answer. The high priest then fixed his eyes on the pectoral, and those letters which formed the answei shone with more than ordinary lustre, and were significantly raised out of their places. So when David inquired of God, by means of the urim, whether he should go up tc one of the cities of Judah, three letters came out of their places as it were, and gave the answer. While the Hebrews were under a theocracy, or immediately governed by Jehovah, it was nece ary there should always be means at hand to consult him; but when this theocracy ceased, and the kingdom became hereditary in the person and family of Solomon, and Israel became di- • video into two monarchies, under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the consulting of the urim and thummim appears to have ceased. [s. 1300]